Machine for forming vehicle springs



Jan. 7, 1930. a. E. ROCKHOFF MACHINE FOR FORMINGVEHICLE SPRINGS- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1927 Jan. 7, 1930. B. E. ROCKHOFF MACHINE FOR FORMING VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed Aug. 3, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwmtz- Zqrtl 300K 2 aff v Jan. 7, 1930. B. E. ROCKHOFF MACHINE FOR FORMING VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed g- 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 in. fi mllli lkllll ll ll Jan. 7, 1930. B. E. ROCKHOFF MACHINE FOR FORMING VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed Aug. 5, 1927 4 UT 1. h. F ZIEM 2 art-1. flack/luff Jan. 7, 1930. B. E. ROCKHOFF 1,742,730 4 MACHINE FOR FORMING VEHICLE SPRINGS Filed Aug. 3, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a Y r #Brtl? Zak/Muff Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orsrce BERT E. ROCKHOFF, OF DETROIT, IIVIIGII'IIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN MACHINE FOR FORMING VEHICLE SPRINGS Application filed August 3, 1927. Serial No. 210,438. 1

The invention relates to machines for forming vehicle springs or like articles and refers more particularly to machines for cambering hot flat vehicle spring blanks and quenching the same :while cambered. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine which will hold a cambered' blank throughout its movement through the quenching liquid and then discharge the blank back into the liquid to be completely cooled. Another object is to provide an improved construction of templet for carrying the blank through the quenching liquid andthen discharging the blank. Further objects of the invention reside in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is aside elevation of a spring forming machine, embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a pair of cooperating spring cambering templets;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections of one of the templets;

Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof;

1 Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation there- 0 Figure 6 is an end elevation thereof;

Figures 7 and 8 are cross sections respectively on the lines 77 and 88 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the parts in open position.

The machine shown in the present instance is designed particularly for forming and quenching vehicle leaf springs and comprises the tank 1 containing the quenching liquid, such as oil, and the rotatable table or drum 2 carrying the angularly spaced relatively movable spring cambering templets .3 and 4. The axis of rotation of this table is so located that the table carries the templets downwardly into and upwardly out of the quenching liquid. The templets 3 are fixedly mounted upon the table, while the templets 4 are reciprocably mounted upon the table to move toward and away from the templets 3; For moving the templets 4, there is the rock arm 5 in the form of a bell crank lever pivotally connected to the table and having one arm pivotally connected to each templet. The

other arm 5 ofthe lever 5 is provided with a roller 5" engageable in anirregular groove 6 formed in the stationary cam 6. The shape of the groove is such that upon rotation of the table. the roller 5" will engage the cam surface of-the groove and actuate the lever 5 to move each templet 4 toward its cooperatlng templet 3 to clamp a spring therebetween prior to the two templets being carried into the quenching liquid and is moved away from its cooperating templet prior to the two templets being carried out of the quenching liquid. For the purpose of holding the spring in cambered position through as long a time as possible, means is provided for holding the spring to one of the templets during the travel of the spring downwardly into and upwardly out of the quenching liquid. Also, for the purpose of providing for finally cooling the spring in the quenching liquid, the means for holding the spring to one of the templets is formed to eject or discharge the spring back into the quenching liquid and in a manner to clear the rotatable table and templets thereon.

In the present instance, the springs are clamped to the templets 3 during their movement through the quenching liquid and these templets include the central section 7 and the sections 8 at the sides of the central section, each section 8 having a plurality of spring engaging abutments 9, which are normally yieldably forced against'the spring by suitable means such as the coil spring 10 acting through the center rod 11 and the evener 12 upon the abutment rods 18. Each section 8 has a suitable housing for each coil spring and portions of the center rod and abutment rods, which is detachably and adj ustably clamped to the rotatable table. The .templet 4 has the series of spring engaging abutments 14 which are preferably cast integral and the ends of whichform a contour corresponding to the desired completed contour of the spring.

The central section 7 of the templet 3 is provided with means for clamping the spring leaf to this templet this means being operable aftcr'the springhas been carried upward 1y out'of thequenching liquid to release the spring and to allow the same to drop back into the quenching liquid. In detail, the central section comprises the housing 15 which is adapted to be detachably clamped to the rotatable table in the same manner as the housings of the sections 8. This housing has the longitudinally extendinggrooves 1.6 in its opposite edges and the central longitudinally extending bore 17 as well .as the longitudinally extending cy'lindricalrrecesses 18 between the grooves 16 and thebore 17. 19 are spring engaging abutments similar to the abutments 9, and 20 are abutment rods slidably extending through thegrooves 16;. 21 is a centrally located spring engaging abutment upon the center abutment rod'i22. Foryiel dalbly iorcing these abutments 19 and 21 ia-gainst-therspring, there rare :the :coil springs 23 arranged within the recesses 18 and exerting I pull upon the rofds 24, each of which iis'toonnected toran owner "25 having one end fulcrumed'uponan abutment nod 20 and the other end dulcrnmed trpon the :center TOG]. 22, the two :eveners having the :ends :Eulcruming upon the :center rod 22 .;in overlapiped relation. 7

:For clampingnthe spring-against the .ahutments 19 'andi21, the pairs of inner andouter cooperating jaws '26 and 27, :are provided,

these jaws bein g pivotally mounted upon the bases of the-:L-shaped arms 28. The bases of these arms extenda'long 10118181161 of the hous- 15, while-the stems of the arms extend longitudinallyat :theonter'sideof the housing. These are pivotallymonnted upon the bearing :blocksz29, which extendlongitudinally :at the router side "of the housing 15 and are rigidly secured thereto at its edges. Each of the -261-and .27 is provided with the projecting portion 30, which is adapted to engage the side of the spring opposite that engaged by the abutments 1 9 and'21and-with the proj ecti'ng portion 31 1 adaptod'to engage the same side of the springas ;thea butments 19and21. The abutment portions- 31 are in the nature of gear segments which intermes-h so thatwthe jaws of each pair simultaneously rock and by reason 'of these abutment {portions the jaws :are automaticallyvswungto locked position when the spring is inserted in the machine and the table is rotated to bring the templets into clamping position. For normally rocking thejaws to open position'to release the spring, there are the-coil springs 32 :whichrareoonnected to the pins 33extendin-g from the jaws andthe pins '34 extending from the bases of the arms 28 at their ends.

ZFornormally locking the jaws closed position to secure the spring against theiabutments 1l 9:a-nd 21, there rare the pivotal pawls 35, which extend longitudinally within the outer se es 'iof the stems wof the arms, vthese pawls having tends .engageable with the shoulders 36 upon the router {jaws .27. To

normally swing these pawls to engage their ends with the shoulders 36, there are the coil springs 37 extending between the arms and the inner sides of the pawls at their opposite ends, the pawl pivotes being intermediate their-ends.

To normally hold the arms in closed position oriadj acent to the housing 15, there is the latchblockBB between thearms and form- .ing therewith .,a frame. "Tlus latch'block is movable as a unit with the arms,the pin 39 torrning-tlaepivotfor the outer jaws 27 extending through the arms and the latch block and the :pin 40 ;forming the pivot for the shoulder by FIHBfillS-fOfihG ooilspring 146 a which: abuts the alatch Land'fthe latch b'lQOiCk. A7 is .a pivotal rock lever having the shoulder 48 engageab'le withthe EILdiOJl-ithBzlflllCh-Bfitfiflsion 41-3400 move v latch ishonlder'ilfl from registration with-the catch shoulder 45. This rock dever also has the -:shoulder $9 which :is so positiionedithatraittenthe latch 41 hasbee-n moved to release the frame formed (of the arms and latchthl'ock this :shoulderAQ engages the latch fsblook to mock LOT swing the frame. The pivot :Eor zthe'fram r-ais well asst/he rack lever,-;is:=the:pin-':5Q, whioirexiiends through the hearingibloclss 29, iends of the *stems of the arms 28, anduthemockleverdl .51 are -trips upon ':the hearing blocks 29 and extending laterally to provideprojections which are engageable with the free ends of the pawls. 35 upon locliing orswinging of the frame to rock or swirrgathese pawls, thereby disengaging theiriliockingv ends LEromthe shouldersfifi upon the outer :ja-ws 21']. '.,As a result, these jaws are nel-easedra'ndzmay be then rocked-or swung :to open :pos'ition by means of thercoil springs 132,-;as well asthe action ofthespring being operated :trpon through the efo-rts exerted by 'theispring pressed abutments .29 and :31 of the-:centnalisection ia-n-dithe abutmerits-9 10f the other-sectionsof (the templet For actuating-the roclrlever 47,-.13-116-1615 the tripza'3 which ,supported upon-thecross .bar 5.4 extending .between the-sides of the :tank :1 in near-of thevrotatablertahleor drum This trip, .as-shown, {in the na-ture'o'f a rbell crank and-ispiwoted :at.55 11 n the supportingihlockfifi, which issecuredto the cross bar. sQne endotth-isrtripis, 'ivotally oonnected to ,threadedmemberi- 7, which extendsathnougih the-cross ,bar andrhasrthreaded'oniits rears-end thenut: 58, which isabutted by'the coil spring 59 encircling the threaded member and also abutting the rear of'the cross bar. The free end of the trip is provided with the hook which is positioned to engage the rock leverafter the rotatable table has carried the templet upon which this rock lever is mounted upwardly out of the oil. As the rotable table continues to rotate the 7 rock lever is rocked first releasing the frame and then rocking the latter rearwardly and outwardly away from the rotatable table. Then when the frame has rocked to a position such that its center of gravity is outside the vertical plane through the axis of itspivot, the projections 52 engage the pawls to release the dogs, at which time they are swung to open position and discharge the spring rearwardly over the cross bar 54 and back into the quenching liquid.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a rockable frame, movable means upon said frame for engaging the opposite side of the spring, means for normally holding said frame from rocking,'means for normally holding said first mentioned means from movement relative to said frame, and means for causing said second mentioned means to release said frame, said frame to then rock and said third mentioned means to finally release said first mentioned means.

2. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a rockable frame, a rockable jaw upon said frame and having a portion engageabie with the opposite side of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from movement, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from movement, and means for causing said latch to release said frame, said frame to then rock and said pawl to finally release said jaw.

3. A templet for forming a spring including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a rockable frame upon said support, a rockable jaw upon said frame and having a portion engageable with the opposite side of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from rocking relative to said frame, and means for causing said latch to release said frame, said frame to then rock relative to said support and said pawl to finally re lease said jaw.

4. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a rockable frame upon said support, a rockable jaw upon said frame and having a portion engageable with the oppo' site side of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from rocking relative to said frame, a rockable lever for moving said latch to re lease said frame and subsequently rocking said frame relative to said support, and means upon said support for engaging said pawl upon rocking of said frame to release said jaw. V

5. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a rockable frame upon said support, including an arm and a block movable as a unit, a rockable jaw upon one of said frame members and having a portion engageable with the opposite side of the spring, a latch upon said block for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, a pawl upon said arm for normally holding said jaw from rocking relative'to said frame, a rockable lever upon said support and having a portion engageable with saidlatch torelease said frame and a second portion subsequently engageable with said block to rock said frame, and means-upon said support engageable with said pawl upon rocking of said frame to release said jaw.

6. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a frame pivotally mounted uponsaid support and including a latch block and arms at opposite sides of said block movable as a unit, jaws pivotally mounted upon said arms and having portions engageable with the opposite side of the spring, a latch upon said latch block for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, pawls upon said arms for normally holding said jaws from rocking relative to said frame, a rockable leverv having a'portion for engaging said latch and a portion for subsequently engaging'said latch block to first actuate said latch to release said frame and second rock said frame, and means upon said support and operable upon rocking of said frame to actuate said said jaws.

7 A templet for forming a spring, includ ing an abutment for engaging one side ofa spring, a support, a frame comprising a latch block-and arms at opposite sides of said latch block, a pivot upon said support for said frame comprising a pin extending through said arms near one end thereof, jaws hav ing portions engageable with the opposite side of the spring, a pivot upon said frame for said jaws, including a pin extending through said arms, jaws and latch block, pawls upon said arms for normally holding said jaws from movement, a pivot for said jaws, including a pin extending through said arms, pawls and latch block, said two last mentioned pins also operating to move said arms and latch block as a unit, a latch upon said latch block for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, a rockable lever pivoted upon said first mentioned pin and having a portion initially engageable with said latch to release said frame pawls to release 7 and a portion subsequently engageable with said latch block to rock said frame,and means upon said support engageable with said pawls upon rocking of said frameto rock-the same and release said jaws.

8. A templet for forming aspring having a section, including a support, an abutment slidably mounted upon said support for engaging one side of a spring, afrocka'ble frame upon said support, a .rockable jaw upon said frame having a portion engageable with the opposite side of the spring, means for normally holding said frame from rocking .relative to said support, means for normally holding said jaw from rocking relative to said frame, and means for actuating said'first mentioned means to release said frame :and for subsequently rocking said frame relative to said support and for finally actuating said second mentionedmeans to release said jaw.

9. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a movable frame upon said support, a movable jaw upon said frame and having a portion engageable with the opposite-side of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from movement relative to said support, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from movement relative to said frame, means for causing said latch to release saidframe, said frame to then rock relative to said support and said pawl tothen release said jaw, .and means for moving said abutment to discharge the spring from the templet. I

10. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, means for yieldably forcing said abutment against the spring, a support, a movable frame upon said support, a movable jaw upon said frame and having a portion engageable with the opposite side of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from movement relative to said support, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from movement relative to said frame, and means for successively actuating said latch to release said frame for moving said frame relative to said support and for actuating said pawl to release said jaw.

11. A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engaging one side of a spring, a support, a movable frameupon said support, a movable jaw upon said frame having portions engageable with the opposite sides of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from movement relative to said support, a pawl for normally holding said jaw from movement relative to said frame, and means for successively actuating said latch to release said frame for moving said frame relative to said support and for actuating said pawl to release said jaw.

12. ,A templet for forming a spring, including an abutment for engagingone side ofa spring, a support, arockable frame upon said support, arockable jaw upon said frame and .having portions engaging opposite sides of the spring, a latch for normally holding said frame from rocking relative to said support, a pawl for normallyholding .said jaw .fromrocking relative to said frame, means for successively actuatingsaid latch to release said frame for rocking said frame relative to said support and for actuating said pawl to 1 

